"The first victory we can claim is that our hearts are free of hatred. Hence we say to those who persecute us and who try to dominate us: ‘You are my brother. I do not hate you, but you are not going to dominate me by fear. I do not wish to impose my truth, nor do I wish you to impose yours on me. We are going to seek the truth together’. THIS IS THE LIBERATION WHICH WE ARE PROCLAIMING."
Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas (2002)

Friday, September 18, 2015

Venezuela Wants to Be Free: Show your solidarity with Leopoldo López Mendoza S19 at 2pm

22 cities protesting for a free Venezuela and in solidarity with Leopoldo López on September 19th and Miami is one of them. Protest to be held at the Torch of Friendship at 2:00pm.

Arbitrary detention and show trialLeopoldo López Mendoza is a democratic opposition leader in Venezuela who has been arbitrarily detained since February 18, 2014, subjected to a political show trial and sentenced to 13 years and 9 months prison in a process that fell well short of international standards. Following his sentencing on the evening of September 10, 2015 his wife Lilian Tintori read a letter which Leopoldo had written in which he cited a great nonviolent figure:

In these difficult times, I recall the words of the pacifist leader
Mahatma Gandhi who said: "You can chain me, you can torture me, you can
even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” Today they have Venezuela in chains but we have the strength, the endurance and the faith to make our country free again.

"Venezuelans: I reiterate that I feel stronger and more committed than ever to our struggle to achieve the change we need! I alert Venezuela and the world that any attack on my person is the responsibility of Nicolas Maduro and his henchmen! Lets all go out Saturday peacefully and democratically to the streets. Let's give a testimony of struggle. Change is coming and nothing will stop it!"

Venezuela: UN Working Group
on arbitrary detention demands immediate release of Leopoldo López

GENEVA (18 September 2015) - The Working
Group on Arbitrary Detention of the United Nations Human Rights Council
urged the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to proceed
with the immediate release of Leopoldo López.

Mr. López, National Coordinator of the political
party Voluntad Popular, was sentenced on 10 September 2015 by a provisional
Judge to 13 years, nine months, seven days and twelve hours in prison for
allegedly committing crimes of public incitement, conspiracy, damaging
public property and arson.

“The sentence was issued after a 19-month
long trial conducted behind closed doors and marked by serious irregularities,
when the due process and fair trial were not respected; the basis of the
allegations were not published; the accused was not allowed to exercise
his right to an adequate defense and the exculpatory evidence he offered
was not accepted,” affirmed Mr. Seong-Phil Hong, the Chair-Rapporteur
of the Working Group.

The Working Group reiterated its request
to the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to give due consideration
to its Opinion No. 26/2014* recommending the immediate release of Mr. Leopoldo
López, and granting him full redress, including moral and material compensation,
as well as measures of satisfaction, such as a public statement of apology.

The Working Group also urged the Government
of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to consider its request to visit
the country in order to contribute to strengthening the rule of law by
respecting the independence of the judiciary; judicial guarantees; due
process and the effective punishment of those responsible for arbitrary
arrests.